I worked at a moving company last summer. Though it may seem tedious,  write labels on everything and package it well, boxes are better than small items. Also, be prepared to not have a garage or basement available for awhile. 

Congrats on the new place.

Yes, Tomas, we paid about seventy thousand less than the house once sold for so we're very pleased with the deal.
    Right now all I have is my cell phone but we're getting our internet connection at the house on Tuesday so I'll be back in operation then.

I saw your place on google maps and it looks very beautiful. I like the way the infrastructure is build with trees all around. Here we don't have that at all. Wharton State Forest seems like a great place to hike.

   OK, we found the  computer a while ago but I had the internet connection placed in a room that is still full of crates and very uncomfortable to use.  Today we finally got my computer up and running wireless so I won't be a stranger anymore. 
    Jauke, the Wharton  Tract is a wonderful place to hike, fish, canoe, drive your 4Xs, camp, etc., etc..  It's very much like heaven on earth.  There are hundreds of miles of trails through the Pines, lakes, rivers, wildlife, etc..  It's my favorite place on earth.  The house is like a little doll house but so are the rest of the houses around here so it's no big deal.  It's just kate and I anyway so the house is plenty big enough.  Every time I look out a back window I can't help imagining how great this will all look in the Spring.
    Daughter kate has the livingroom and kitchen looking almost human plus she decorated for
Christmas so the place is starting to look less like Crate Cit and more like home.  It'll take months to have everything just right but at least we're livable now. 
   I've missed you guys.

Walter, I only got through this via Kate's energy.  I'm quite certain I don't have it in me to do this again.  When I move from here it will be in a pine box.

Hopefully not for much time RM.

For downsizing I've heard about the "magic number" system. Which is simply: how many do you use before you reset the system? ie how many cups do you use before you run the dishwasher? How many jeans do you wear before you do laundry?

Anything greater than that number is clutter.

The other trick that I've done and like is: take all your kitchen utensils, put them in a bin. When you use one find a home for it. After a year- if you haven't used it donate it.

   Kate kept a lot of stuff from the apartment that I wouldn't have.  It's OK though.  Once I get some shelves up we'll be able to get everything in order.